Operations and Maintenance Service Contract for Leica Microsystems EM AFS2 Freeze Substitution System
Summary of important facts, details, and requirements
- Location of work
- Bethesda, MD, USA
- Bids due date
- November 18, 2023
- Department and office
- HEALTH AND HUMAN SERVICES, DEPARTMENT OF
NATIONAL INSTITUTES OF HEALTH - Set aside
- Total Small Business Set-Aside (FAR 19.5)
SBA
The US Government is seeking to renew the operations and maintenance service contract for the Leica Microsystems EM AFS2 freeze substitution system. The purpose of this contract is to provide emergency service and preventative maintenance to ensure the instrument operates within GLP standards and minimize downtime. The unique features of the EM AFS2 system, such as deep freezing capabilities and different substitution systems, require expertise and software unique to Leica Microsystems. The contract is not open for competitive quotes, but any responsible source meeting the requirements can submit a capability statement. The deadline for capability statements is November 18, 2023, 10am EST.
EMERGENCY SERVICES AND PREVENTATIVE MAINTENANCE AGREEMENT RENEWAL ON EXISTING EQUIPMENT
Full details from SAM.gov
- Location of work
- Bethesda, MD, USA
- Bids due date
- November 18, 2023
- Department and office
- HEALTH AND HUMAN SERVICES, DEPARTMENT OF
NATIONAL INSTITUTES OF HEALTH - Set aside
- Total Small Business Set-Aside (FAR 19.5)
SBA
The proposed contract action is for the supplies or services for which the Government intends to solicit and negotiate with one source, ( Leica Microsystems), under the authority of FAR 13.106-1. This is being sole sourced because of an exclusive maintenance renewal. The purpose of this acquisition is to purchase an operations and maintenance service contract for the EM AFS2 freeze substitution system, manufactured by Leica Microsystems, lnc, continuing its constant coverage since the extended warranty expired. The Leica EM-AFS2, housed at NIDCD in the AIC (formerly housed in NIDCD/SHG), is used with the Leica EM CPC plunge freezing system for cryo-fixation of tissue samples prior to examination under an electron microscope. ln the EM- AFS, cryo-fixation takes place due to low temperature embedding in an organic solvent and polymerization of the embedding resin. The proposed service agreement is to continue the previous contract with the manufacturer (2018 to present) as it will be expiring. The purpose of the service contract agreement is to provide emergency service and preventative maintenance as necessary to keep the instrument operating within the GLP standards, preventing problems and downtime, and minimizing the impact of a broken instrument on the researchers who rely on it. ln order for the lab to remain competitive, the equipment used for experiments must be kept in top working condition so that errors are not introduced into the data and downtime from broken instrumentation is kept to a minimum. For these reasons, we seek to renew the soon-to-end coverage by purchasing an operations and maintenance service contract for the EM AFS2 freeze substitution system from the manufacturer, Leica Microsystems, lnc. The AIC is seeking a service and maintenance contract for the EM AFS2 freeze substitution system. This instrument is unique from similar systems by other manufacturers in the fact that it can deep freeze the sample below -140C to prevent ice crystal formation, offers a Transfer Function for protection against humidity and oxygen, has a built -in operation console with a USB port, and allows for different substitution systems: a substitution capsule and flat embedding system, a microtube embedding system, and sapphire flow through disk system. The technology and software used in this instrument are unique to Leica Microsystems, the manufacturer. Others are not qualified to do repairs or preventative maintenance services on this freeze substitution system. This is a notice of intent and is not a request for competitive quotes; however, any responsible source who can meet the same requirements listed above may submit a capability statement to the contracting office no later than November 18, 2023 10am, EST. Interest/capability statements may be sent to Ms Van Holley at holleyv@od.nih.gov . Capability statement must demonstrate and describe how the vendor meets all the requirements listed in this notice. No telephone responses will be accepted. A determination not to compete the proposed requirement based upon the responses to this notice is solely within the discretion of the Government.